Public Health and Environment

Using Booster Seats

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 4 to 14 years. Keeping children safe on the road means putting them in the right restraint at the right time. The Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment wants to make sure parents and child-care providers know and follow every one of the 4 Steps For Kids, including the booster seat step.

Step 1: REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS in the back seat from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.
Step 2: FORWARD-FACING TODDLER SEATS in the back seat from age one to about age 4 and between 20 to 40 pounds.
Step 3: BOOSTER SEATS in the back seat from about age 4 and 40 pounds to at least age 8, unless 4'9" tall.
Step 4: SAFETY BELTS at age 8 or older or taller than 4'9". All children 12 and younger should ride in the back seat.

While most parents use child safety seats for infants and toddlers, less than 10 percent of the children who should be in booster seats use them. Minnesota's child passenger safety law requires a child who is both younger than age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches to be fastened in a child safety seat or booster. Under this law, a child cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall — whichever comes first. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on their height, rather than their age.

Booster seats should be used until parents can answer YES to all of these questions:

Does the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat?
Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Why booster seats?

A booster seat lifts a child up so the adult-designed lap and shoulder belts fit them correctly and safely. This also offers children greater comfort and visibility. Without a booster seat, the lap belt rides up over the child's stomach and the shoulder strap cuts across the neck, putting them at risk for serious or even fatal injuries in a crash.

Securing your child in the right restraint at the right time is one of the most important things you can do to protect your child. Booster seats – the often overlooked step – are as important as any of the other age and weight steps and can save lives.

What kind of booster seat is best?

There are two types of booster seats: those with high backs and those that are backless. Both can be used in any vehicle in a seat that uses lap-shoulder belts if your child is over 40 pounds. Never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. Choose a high back booster seat if your vehicle seat back does not have a head rest. Your child's ears should not be higher than the vehicle's seat back cushion or the back of the high-back booster seat.